This is always a good policy, and one often forgotten or dismissed by later teams and leadership. Informed people are usually more contented, relaxed, patient, and more easily mollified during extraordinary occurances. Just ask the airlines recently chastised for making people sit in aircraft that has yet to push back, clearly hours behind schedule.

We had this drilled into us in the military. Don't pee off the troops!!! Keep them informed if only so that they can be better prepared for what's coming. Keep them informed so they know they can take a nap with impunity and due regard to mutual safety and vigilance. And so on....

Generally, people respond positively when they receive expressions and acts of good will. A simple explanatory card left on a seat, or handed out with tickets or during boarding, of this nature will keep people busy acquiring useful information, and give them the impression that the culture of the institution is one that regards its service and clientelle positively.

The New South Wales Government Railways issued a small booklet called "Railway Quiz" which I think was aimed at school children. This provided useful facts in a question and answer format.This included illustrations of signal indications (upper and lower quadrant semaphore and multiple light and single light colour light indications). I think other signs and mileposts, half and quarter mileposts were illustrated.

My favourite pair of facts was that the shortest tunnel and the deepest cutting had the same measurement, 132 feet.

I reaslise that this was never issued in metric measurements so was not reissued after 1973 when these were adopted in Australia. I think the last issue may have been 1965.